Outdoor brand Woolf calls for wider ban on synthetic fibres to be considered beyond school uniforms.

As the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill progresses through the House of Lords with proposed amendments to ban synthetic fibres in school uniforms due to microfibre and PFAS concerns, British sustainable fleece brand Woolf is urging legislators to go further. 

 

While the Bill focuses on protecting children from harmful synthetic fibres, Woolf highlights published evidence by the University of Plymouth showing that wearing synthetic clothing also releases three to four times more microfibres into the air than when washing it. (source)

 

“Microfibre pollution isn’t confined to schools,” said David Henderson, founder of Woolf.

 

 “If we’re considering banning synthetic fibres for children because of inhalation and exposure risks, why would it be still acceptable for adults, who wear these fibres daily and shed even greater volumes of micro and nano plastics into the air around us?” 

 

Studies have found microfibres and microplastics in human lungs, blood, placenta, and breast milk (Ibrahim et al., 2021; Ragusa et al., 2021), raising urgent public health concerns. 

 

“This Bill is a vital first step,” Henderson added. “But if we care about protecting public health and the environment, it’s time to consider harmful adult clothing too.” 

 

 

Woolf is a British sustainable clothing brand creating fleece garments made entirely from natural fibres with zero synthetic or fossil-based materials. Founded to challenge the plastic fleece industry, Woolf is leading the category to show there is a better alternative.